The November 18, 2021 Meeting of the Barnstable Town Council was conducted remotely and physically closed to the public.  Alternative public access was provided through Zoom.  Town Council President Matthew Levesque opened the meeting by inviting Councilor Paul Neary to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. 

President Levesque offered the Moment of Silence.  This was the first Town Council Meeting for Precinct 8 Town Councilor Jeffrey Mendes. 

Next up was Public Comment which was followed by Council Response to Public Comment. 

Prior to delivering his Town Manager Communications, Mr. Ells shared that The Quarterback Club will present the second annual Red Rolling Rally for the Barnstable High School Football and Cheerleading teams on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, stepping off from the Transportation Building on the corner of Barnstable Road, Old Colony and Main Street in Hyannis at 12 Noon.  The parade of floats designed and created by volunteers recruited by students and staff, and led by the Hyannis Fire Department will start at the Transportation Center at 12 Noon, travel down Main Street to Sea Street, take a left, and then a left onto South Street. The parade will conclude at the back of Town Hall with a pep rally on the Village Green bandstand.  Event concludes at 2 PM. The public is encouraged to attend and cheer on the students as their brightly colored floats pass by.

Mr. Ells then presented his Town Manager Communications for period the November 5-18, 2021:

  1. Elizabeth Jenkins, Director of Planning & Development, shall provide an update on the Local Comprehensive Plan.
  2. On November 9, 2021 Barnstable hosted the 2022 Housing Choice Community Grant Program & MA Downtown Initiative Awards Announcement.  Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Undersecretary Jennifer Maddox, state legislators, Town Councilors and business leaders attended the celebration of the successful first round of the state’s Community One Stop for Growth and announcements.  Barnstable was the recipient of both awards.
  3. We are proceeding with the budget action calendar for FY 2023.  We have issued the Capital and Operating Budget Instructions to the departments and are planning for a proposed level of service budget in FY 2023.  We held our public hearing for annual fees on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.  The hearing is available for viewing on our web site Video On-Demand under Fee Hearing 11-16-2021.  The proposed annual fees have been taken under advisement for 30 days.  Those wishing to provide any additional comments may do so through December 16, 2021.  For information on our fiscal year budgets please view the Town’s Open Budget website at http://budget.townofbarnstable.us.
  4. Barnstable County has announced spending priorities for the $41 million they received in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Spending priorities in descending order include a) water, sewer and broadband infrastructure projects that have regional impact; b) projects related to public health systems; c) projects related to negative economic impacts of the pandemic on households; small businesses, nonprofits and disproportionately impacted communities; and d) projects related to lost public sector revenue and pay to essential workers. The County is currently in Phase 1 of their 4 phase plan. During Phase 1, the County will begin contacting elected and appointed officials in Cape towns, the County’s legislative delegation, the Assembly of Delegates, community and business leaders and members of the public to solicit comments on spending priorities.  The President signed into law on Monday the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Funds are provided for roads and bridges, transportation, an expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network, high speed internet, infrastructure to combat climate change, cyber-attacks and extreme weather events, clean drinking water and airport improvements. Based on formula funding MA would expect $4.2 billion for roads and bridges, $2.5 billion for transportation, $63 million for EV charging networks, $21.5 million for infrastructure to combat cyber-attacks and extreme weather events, $1.1 billion for clean drinking water through the state’s revolving fund loan program and $244 million for airports. There are also billions of dollars set aside for a competitive process under all of these programs.
  5. The Town of Barnstable’s Department of Public Works continues sewer construction for the Strawberry Hill Road Sewer Expansion Project.  A new gravity sewer will be installed in portions of Craigville Beach Road, Strawberry Hill Road, Wequaquet Lane and Phinney’s Lane. Additionally, a new submersible pump station will be installed on a Town easement at the intersection of Strawberry Hill Road and Craigville Beach Road.  Construction will be coordinated with Vineyard Wind, which will be installing a duct bank and associated utility relocations in the same area as part of its offshore wind energy Phase 1 project. Upon the completion of both projects, Vineyard Wind will resurface disturbed roadways within the project area.  If you have any questions or wish to receive project updates, please contact Paul Ruszala, P.E., Senior Project Manager, at the Department of Public Works at 508-790-6400 or paul.ruszala@town.barnstable.ma.us.  More information about the Strawberry Hill Road Project and the Town of Barnstable’s CWMP is available at:  https://barnstablewaterresources.com/. Sign up for Enews, our Community Currents newsletter:  https://barnstablewaterresources.com/news-updates/.
  6. We are pleased to share that Jesse Schechtman has been appointed as Director of Golf with the Community Services Department, succeeding Bruce McIntyre. Jesse has served as Head Golf Pro at Hyannis Golf Course since 2015 and stepped into the role of Interim Director in September. We thank Bruce for his almost three decades of valued and dedicated service to the Town of Barnstable and wish Jesse the best in his new position overseeing Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds and Hyannis Golf Course.
  7. On November 10th, the Barnstable Youth Commission facilitated the “One Love” training at Barnstable High School. Together with volunteer adult advisors, our youth leaders empowered their peers by providing education, tools, and resources to identify the warning signs of unhealthy relationships and how to develop healthy and positive relationships.
  8. On Monday evening, the Youth Commission and Recreation Division hosted the 8th Annual Community Substance Abuse Prevention Forum at the Barnstable Adult Community Center. This collaboration with the Barnstable Police Department and local substance abuse support agencies provides families with crucial and current information to protect our youth from the dangers and consequences of substance abuse. Participants also had the opportunity to tour the “Hidden in Plain Sight” trailer to illustrate where illegal substances may be hidden in the home.
  9. The Community Services Department welcomes Moriah Becal as the Youth and Family Outreach Coordinator with the Recreation Division. In this role, Moriah will work closely with the Barnstable Youth Commission on their various projects and initiatives. She will also be available to provide support, information, and referral to our youth and their families, expanding the community safety net and strengthening our ability to respond to the needs of at-risk youth. Moriah is a Licensed Mental Health Clinician with a Master of Social Work degree from Boston University.
  10. Rob Steen, Assistant Director of Public Works, will provide an update on the Barnstable Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan.

Mr. Ells introduced Mark Milne, Director of Finance, who presented a WORKSHOP: Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan 5 Year Costs Projection (Fiscal Year 2023-Fiscal Year 2027) and Funding Options.  Mr. Milne’s PowerPoint presentation can be found here. The Town Council acted on the minutes next which was followed by Communications. 

There was no OLD BUSINESS. 

The Orders of the Day began with NEW BUSINESS. 

Barnstable Police Chief Matthew Sonnabend presented Agenda Items 2022-040 Authorization to expend a Federal Fiscal Year 2021 Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant in the amount of $20,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs and 2022-041 Authorization to expend a Fiscal Year 2022 Arrest/Jail Diversion Grant in the amount of $67,712 from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health which were approved. 

Agenda Item 2022-042 Allocation of Tax Levy Fiscal Year 2022 – Tax Factor was referred to a Public Hearing on December 2, 2021.  Finance Director Mark Milne presented a review of the property tax levy shifting options in advance of the Public Hearing.

Agenda Item 2022-043 Allocation of Tax Levy Fiscal Year 2022 – Residential Exemption was referred to a Public Hearing on December 2, 2021. Prior to the reading of Agenda Item 2022-044 Appropriation and Loan Order in the amount of $2,750,000 for the Design and Permitting of the Vineyard Wind 2 Route Sewer Expansion Project, Town Councilor David Bogan recused himself.  The item was referred to a Public Hearing on December 16, 2021. 

Agenda Item 2022-045 Appropriation and Loan Order in the amount of $3,500,000 for the Design and Permitting of the Route 28 West Sewer Expansion Project was referred to a Public Hearing on December 16, 2021. 

Finance Director Milne joined by Assistant DPW Director Rob Steen, presented Agenda Item 2022-046 Transfer Order request of $600,000 for the purpose of funding outside contractor costs associated with storm debris removal resulting from the October 27, 2021 Nor’easter was approved. 

Community Preservation Committee Chair Lindsey Counsell presented Agenda Item 2022-048 Amending Town Council Order 2021-024, as approved on November 19, 2020, which authorized the Appropriation and Transfer of Community Preservation Funds for the acquisition of 830 Wakeby Road, Marstons Mills, and the placement of a conservation restriction on the property to be held by Barnstable Land Trust, to reflect the receipt of a Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant and to add a second Grantee as co-holder of the conservation restriction which was approved.

Marine & Environmental Affairs Director Derek Lawson, joined by Shellfish Constable and Senior Natural Resource Officer Amy Croteau, presented Agenda Item 2022-049 Authorization to expend a Covid-19 Response Funding Grant for Municipal Shellfish Programs and Industry Support Program for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 from the Woods Hole Sea Grant and MIT Sea Grant in the amount of $10,000 which was approved.

Agenda Item 2022-050 Supplemental Appropriation Order in the amount of $8,490 for the Heavy Duty Truck Scale Replacement Project at the Solid Waste Division of the Department of Public Works was referred to a Public Hearing December 16, 2021.

Agenda Item 2022-051 Appointments to a Board/Committee/Commission: Infrastructure and Energy Committee received a First Reading and was referred to a Second Reading on December 2, 2021.

Councilor Jen Cullum presented Agenda Item 2022-047 Suspension of Town Council Rule 1 to move up by one meeting date each of the respective Town Council meetings at which President and Vice President of the Town Council are nominated and elected passed.  The meeting was then turned over to Assistant Town Clerk Janet Murphy to run the nominations for President and Vice President. 

Nominations for President are:  David Bogan and Matt Levesque.
Nominations for Vice President are:  Paula Schnepp and Jen Cullum. 

The election will be held at the December 2, 2021 Town Council Meeting.  The next regularly scheduled Town Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2021. The public is able to view through Comcast Channel 18 or Live Streaming on the Town of Barnstable’s website.  Real-time public comment may be addressed to the Barnstable Town Council utilizing the Zoom video link or telephone number and access meeting code which will be included on the Agenda.  Written Comments may be submitted to:  https://tobweb.town.barnstable.ma.us/boardscommittees/towncouncil/Town_Council/Agenda-Comment.asp.  The meeting Agenda will be available on the Town of Barnstable’s website (www.townofbarnstable.us).